The Daily Prayer-Book/Confession
DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION.
PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION.
Jesus, bring back to my remembrance tbe sins and wickednesses by which I have offended Thee. Jesus, grant me the spirit of perfect penitence; that by contrition, confession, and satisfaction,! may obtain Thy grace and thoroughly cleanse my conscience.
Jesus, have mercy on me, a wretched sinner, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, enter not into judgment with Thy servants, for in Thy sight no man living shall be justified.
EXAMEN OF CONSCIENCE ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
I. Have you wilfully entertained doubts against Faith, denied it, exposed it to danger by reading infidel or heretical books, been guilty of superstitious practices? Do you belong to any secret society? Have you despaired? presumed on God's mercy by culpably postponing your conversion? neglected your prayers? if so, how long?
II. Have you taken God's name in vain? Sworn uselessly? Perjured yourself?
III. Have you neglected to hear Mass on Sundays and days of obligation? done unnecessary servile work on such days? broken the abstinence or fasts? neglected your Easter duty?
IV. Have you been disobedient or disrespectful to parents or superiors, or neglected to take proper care of those under your charge?
V. Have you quarrelled, fought? desired revenge, borne ill-will? neglected to give alms?
VI., IX. Have you sinned against holy purity in thought, word, or deed? or caused others to do so? Have you been guilty of gluttony or intemperance?
VII., X. Have you stolen, cheated? How much? Given away what was not your own? neglected to make restitution? For how long? Have you opened or read letters not belonging to you?
VIII. Have you detracted or calumniated? How many? What injury have you done? what compensation is due? Have you told lies? betrayed secrets?
ACT OF CONTRITION.
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest my sins for love of Thee; I firmly resolve by Thy grace to sin no more. A contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
METHOD OF CONFESSION.
Kneeling down, make the sign of the Cross, saying —
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then ask a blessing in these words:
Pray, Father, give me your blessing, for I have sinned.
The Priest’s Blessing:
May the Lord be in your heart, and on your lips, that you may, with truth and with humility, confess all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then say the first part of the Confiteor, as follows: —
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to you, father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Then say:
Since my last confession, which was [mention how long since], I accuse myself, &c.
After this, accuse yourself of your sins, either according to the order of God’s commandments, or such other order as you find most helpful to your memory; adding, after each sin, the number of times that you have been guilty of it, and such circumstances as may very considerably aggravate the guilt; but carefully abstaining from such as are not pertinent or unnecessary, and from excuses and long narrations.
After you have confessed all that you can remember conclude with this or the like form: —
For these and all other my sins, which I cannot at present call to my remembrance,
I am heartily sorry, purpose amendment for the future, and most humbly ask pardon of God, and penance and absolution of you, my ghostly father.
Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, and you, father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Then give attentive ear to the instructions and advice of your confessor, and humbly accept of the penance enjoined by him.
Whilst the Priest gives you absolution, bow down your head with great humility, call upon God for mercy, and repeat once again the Act of Contrition.
THE FORM OF ABSOLUTION.
When the Priest desires to absolve a penitent, a salutary penance having been first enjoined upon him, and accepted by him, he says first —
May Almighty God have mercy on thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to life everlasting. Amen.
Then, with his hand raised towards the penitent, he says:
May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant thee pardon, absolution, and remission of all thy sins. Amen.
May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve thee; and I by his authority absolve thee from every bond of excommunication (suspension), and interdict, as far as I am able, and thou needest.
Then I absolve thee from thy sins, in the Name of the Father ✠, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
If the penitent be a lay person, the word “ suspension” is omitted.
May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the Saints, whatever good thou shalt do, or evil thou shalt sustain, be to thee for the remission of sins, for the increase of grace, and the reward of eternal life. Amen.
AFTER CONFESSION.
What thanks are not due to Thee, O my Jesus, for Thy great goodness to me? When I was faithless to Thy goodness and loving kindness, Thou hast had patience with me; and even when I offended Thee, Thy grace waited for me. It is to Thy infinite grace and goodness that I am indebted for this sacrament, in which Thou hast reconciled me to Thyself. To Thee, and to Thy precious blood, I desire to offer all the love of my heart, just cleansed from sin. Humbled before Thee, I cried out like David, Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and Thou hast heard my prayer; O my God, Thou hast forgiven me my sins, Thou hast restored unto me the joy of Thy salvation. Join with me, O my dear Mother Mary, and you, my Angel Guardian and holy Patron, in thanking our dear Jesus for His goodness and mercy to me.
Accept, O Lord, I beseech Thee, this my confession, and mercifully pardon all my deficiencies, that, according to the greatness of Thy mercy, I may be fully and perfectly absolved in heaven; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, &c.
FOR PERSEVERANCE.
Grant, O my Lord Jesus, that I may persevere in good purposes, and in Thy holy service till my death, and that I may this day begin in earnest, for all I have hitherto done is as nothing.